I
E. O. E. PROOF ONLY
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE, RANDWICK LABOR CLUB, SYDNEY,
26 OCTOBER 1984
JOURNALIST: the Costigan Report from Mr Peacock if he
doesn't guarantee not to reveal confidential details?
PM: Let me say, Peter. What I've done is, I've written to Mr:
Peacock indicating of course that we would make the report full),
available to him, but the strict confidentiality must be
respected. And the reasons for that are obvious. I will just put
it very briefly. It is in respect of any on-going prosecutions
that may be involved they must not be prejudiced. And secondly,
the civil libe rties of people who may be named, who may not in
fact have any charges against them. And so I am waiting on the
reply from Mr Peacock to that letter. And he must be prepared to
accept those conditions of strictest confidentiality. I don't
think there is anyone in Australia o: E any political persudsion : ho
would possibly disagree with that.
JOURNALIST: Earlier on, Prime Minister, Mr Peacock was giving
indications that he was going to release sections of the Report
( inaudible)>
PM: ( inaudible) is doing that, I started to wonder whether
the~ public for Mr Peacock could go any lower than it is, but
I am sure that if he were to do that, it would. This is not an
issue that is politically advantage it is You must
respect the public interest in the two ways that I have said.
Firstly, we are concern'ed, and I would assume Mr Peacock was, that
every possibility of people who should be pursued according;
to the criminal processes should be undertaken and without
prejudice. There must: be nothing, at least which would inhibit:
those processes. And secondly we should all feel a concern for
the rights of individuals. Now, to get political advantage
and prejudice those two basic considerations, then the people will
make their judgement. As far as Mr Kennett is concerned, that i~ s
a matter for arrangement between Mr Cain, the-Premier of Victoria,
and the Leader of the Opposition. And if Mr Peacock is going to
try and play politics on this, he will pay the price. He doesn't
seem to learn quickly enought that there are standa~ rds of
behaviour that the people of Australia expect from their political
leaders.
JOURNALIST: Inaudible
I think that that is not only a hypothetical question, ou. t
it is just not fair to speculate on that. I trust that he will
have the good sense to understand the necessity of abiding by
those conditions.
J OURNALIST: Prime Minister, will you concede that there are now
big differences between the position of your Government and the
ACTU over the productivity increase and indirect taxes?
PM: No, I not only do not, but I think if you contain your
patience, you will find that later this aft~ ernoon There will be a
statement issued by the ACTU which will make it quite clear that
that is not the case.
JOURNALIST: Inaudible.
PM: Just a minute, I can't let that one
JOURNALIST: That you have been putting pressure on
PM: No, I don't put pressure on the ACTU.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoken to Mr Dolan?
PM: No, I have not spoken to Mr Dolan.
JOURNALIST: On the Costigan matter. In one sense you are
criticising Mr Peacock
PM: No, no, I am not. Now, let's be quite clear on this. There
have been propositions put to me that Mr PEacock has himself been
making statements as to what he would do. I am responding to
those. He has been saying he would release the document, he
wouldn't abide by this, he would make it available to the public.
That is what I am responding to.
JOURNALIST: What is the wording of the conditions you put in
that letter?
PM: I haven't got the document in front of me, but it seems to
meit was that he would have the whole document made available -to
him, unexpurgated, but that the strictest condition of
confidentiality must be adhered to. That is the essence of what I
said.
JOURNALIST:-Inaudible.
PM: I haven't spoken to Mr Crean. I have spoken to Mr Kelty.
JOURNALIST: Mr Trimbole.
miL I
3
PM: No, this is something which is within the proper processes
of the law and I hope that those processes are pursued ttL
conclusion.
JOURNALIST: Mr Hawke, ( inaudible)
PM: I think you should see the stat~ ement which I understand will
be made by the ACTU. Once you see that and hear what I have to
say later on the , you will see lthat the position I am putting
-to you is justified.
JOURNALIST: Do you have the Costigan Report yet?
PM: I don't have it yet, but my office has it, as I understand.
I haven't seen it yet.